Mattress



P. DOANE Sept. 9, 1952 MATTRESS Filed July 7, 1948 IN V EN TOR.

ATTOR/Vf) Patented Sept. 9, 1 952 MATTRESS Paul 0. Doane, wmao'r, m. Application July 7, 1948, Serial No. 37,349

4 Claims.

This invention relates to mattresses and more particularly to an improvement thereon whereby bed sheets or the like may be more effectively retained in proper position than generally encountered in mattresses of conventional design.

It is well known that bed sheets although originally applied so that they are smooth, neat and comfortable, often become wrinkled generally through the weight of an occupant of the bed. This is unsightly and uncomfortable as a rule, but the problem is of particular proportions in hospitals where a patient should be kept comfortable although in many instances he is not able to move about and correct any such source of discomfort.

With the foregoing in mind, I have devised an improvement to a mattress which is simple although quite effective in maintaining a bed sheet or the like in proper position. I have accomplished this by providing the horizontal edges of the mattress with elongated rubber strips having rough surfaces so as to provide frictional engagement with the sheet and thus help to maintain it in position. The rubber strips are applied along all the sides, which include the ends of the mattress, and to provide further assurance, both the upper and lower edges are provided with strips. In this way, the area of contact between the rubber strips and sheet is not only enhanced,

but the sheet is gripped along spaced portions thereof to improve the grip of the rubber strips.

Other objects of my invention will be apparent from the following description, it being understood that the above general statements of the objects of my invention are intended to describe and not limit it in any manner.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a mattress constructed according to the instant invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view illustrating a modified embodiment.

Figs. 3 and 4 are fragmentary cross-sections of the principal and modified embodiments respectively.

The mattress per se l0 may be of conventional construction, being of generally rectangular shape having a top face I l and sides I2 which define the thickness of the mattress. As is customary, tufts l3 may be provided, if desired.

The invention resides in the application of elongated rubber strips to all the side edges of the mattress. Such rubber strips are arranged to extend a short distance both into the sides and faces of the mattress. Both faces of the mattress are so treated and the respective rubber way, a double and spaced grip is maintained on the bed sheet so as to provide further assurance against excessive wrinkling.

A top rubber strip l4 encircles the top edge of the mattress throughout its entire perimeter. A bottom rubber strip [5 is similarly applied. Such strips may be either sewn to the edges or they may be adhesively secured thereto. The strips are preferably provided with a rough surface as is generally utilized for increasing the coefiicient of sliding friction. The spaced nature of strips I4 and [5 provides such an effective grip on the bed sheet by their joint action that the tendency to draw up or wrinkle is particularly resisted.

In Fig. 2 is illustrated the application of the rubber strips to a so-called roll or imperial edge of a mattress. The strips are preferably applied to the mattress edge before formation of the roll and are sewn to the mattress at lines [6 and [1 during the formation of the roll.

The invention is not only applicable for mattresses used in beds but may be applied to divans or the like which may have a removable cover thereon in the nature of a sheet.

While there has been described what at present is considered a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be evident that many changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from its spirit. It is therefore aimed in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a mattress of a first elongated rubber strip secured along the top edges thereof and av second elongated rubber strip secured along the bottom edges thereof so as to be spaced from the first mentioned strip by substantially the width of the mattress, said strips being disposed on the surface of the mattress edges whereby a sheet may be maintained on the mattress by frictional contact.

2. The combination with a mattress of an elongated, rough surfaced rubber strip secured around the surface edges of at least one side of said mattress whereby a sheet may be maintained thereon by frictional contact.

3. The combination with a rectangular mattress of a first continuous elongated rubber strip having a rough surface secured along every top edge of the mattress so as to extend into both the top face and sides thereof and a second continuous elongated rubber strip having a rought surface secured along every bottom edge of the mattress whereby said rubber strips are spaced from each other approximately the width of the mattress and being on the surface thereof whereby a sheet may be maintained thereon by frictional contact.

4. The combination with a mattress having continuous upper and lower roll edges formed by stitching the edges thereof, of elongated rubber strips secured over and .around'both said upper 10 Number and lower roll edges throughout their lengths, said rubber strips being secured to the mattress by the stitching which forms said roll edges on the mattress and being on the surface thereof 4 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,399,628 Cunningham May 7, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date 303,282 "Great Britain i .I an. 3, 1929 408,639 Great Britain Apr. 9, 1.934

whereby a sheet may be maintained thereonlby 

